Best sized self build for exploring Scotland

[CAElite]

Hey folks, thanks for having me

As per the title, really looking into creating a self build, primarily to serve me for weekend to week trips around the country & out to the islands. Was initially opting to go for the biggest thing I could run on a 3.5ton ticket, a Jumbo van (ideally, from personal experience in haulage, Transit, late mk7 or mk8 L4H3). I have gone as far as drafting up some fag packet plans for a panel van of this size, which would allow for a fixed, raised bed with storage under, maybe for a motorbike & possibly a toilet/shower cubicle, plus water/boiler to run it.

However I do realise the costs incurred with the ferrys, which often have 5 or 6m 'barriers' where they become astronomically more expensive, I am mainly looking for advice from folks who frequently take their vans up here, do you find ferry costs to be restrictive, or am I worrying unduly?

Obviously I am also considering the other advantages of a smaller van, especially as it may well become my only 'car' to supplement the motorbikes I tend to ride, a 5m long MWB will fit in a parking space. A 6.4m long XLWB won't. With the lower prices with smaller vans it would also allow my ~£5k van budget to possibly stretch to a euro 6, which may well be important in the future with the hippies getting their way.

Cheers
CAE

 

[Johnen]

With a transit van your fixed bed would need to go from front to back, because the transit is narrower. My son has an L4 boxer with a transverse fixed bed at the back. He frequently island hops from Arran up the west coast islands with no problems, don’t know about costs for ferries.

 

[WillH]

We tour Scotland a lot in a 7m coachbuilt, never had a problem. Ferry prices are reasonable as they are heavily subsidised. A few years ago in Shetland one of the ferries was actually free to encourage tourists visit the smaller isles.

 

[Blue Knight]

Hi CAElite and welcome to the forum.

We spent Aug, Sep and Oct-19 In Shetland, went across every ferry and down every dodgy thin road possible.

Our van is a Fiat PVC 6.36m long and was fine but if I'm being critical then I would go for a 6m-long van.

The ferries up there charge a standard moho/van rate of just under £20 (return with 2 people) but you won't get it for free these days, especially when you consider that the Scottish Government has just slashed the Highlands & Islands ferry budget by £2-Million.

All MoHo/van charges are up to 5.5m in length and 5.5m and over so the 5m or 6m rule does not exist up there.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[68c]

One advantage of the Peugeot/Fiat/Citroen vans is the gearlever in the dash and the handbrake to the right of the drivers seat. Makes it easier to move from the front seats into the living area.

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[TheBig1]

I wouldn't be happy with the space in anything less than a jumbo these days. Have converted a few over the years myself and the wider the van the better the layout possible. It is always a compromise on space though

 

[CAElite]

Hey folks

So, thanks for the responses, I was aware of the advantages of the slightly wider load area on the Fiat/Pug, allowing for a typical mattress to be laid transversely across the van, never considered the handbrake location too. My personal experiences having one as an old work van put me off to a point (reliable enough, doesn't handle weight well).

Andrew Out of curiosity, who runs 5.5m? I know Calmac run on 6, 8 & 10m increments, with 6 being the car rate, 8m being 50% more, 10m being 100% more. Western Ferries use up 5m and 10m, with the latter being twice the cost of the former.

Still undecided lads, also just realised the permit for parking on-street at my work omits vehicles over 5.25m long or 2.27m tall, which is a bit of a ballbuster.

Cheers
CAElite